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Customers reported dropping almost $8.8 billion to scams in 2022: FTC

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The Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) launched knowledge on Thursday that exhibits American shoppers reported dropping almost $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022 – a rise of greater than 30% in comparison with the prior yr.

Based on the FTC’s knowledge, shoppers misplaced essentially the most cash to funding scams, which fleeced buyers of greater than $3.8 billion final yr. That quantity is greater than double what was misplaced to funding scams the prior yr when fraudsters claimed greater than $1.8 billion from American buyers. Losses from imposter scams had been additionally on the rise in 2022, with greater than $2.6 billion reported misplaced to such schemes final yr, which was a rise from $2.2 billion in 2021. 

Whereas People reported better losses to scams final yr, primarily based on the FTC knowledge, the variety of fraud reviews really declined in 2022. There have been 2.9 million fraud reviews amounting to $6.1 billion in losses in 2021, in comparison with 2.4 million fraud reviews and $8.8 billion in losses in 2022. 

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FTC Scam Fraud Report

The Federal Commerce Fee reported that American shoppers misplaced $8.8 billion to scams in 2022. (Paul J. Richards / AFP through Getty Photos / File / Getty Photos)

Customers’ commonest complaints had been imposter scams adopted by on-line buying scams. The remainder of the highest 5 complaints included these providing a reward through lotteries, prizes and sweepstakes; funding reviews; and enterprise and job alternatives.

Losses attributable to fraud perpetrated by imposter companies have continued to rise lately, from $196 million in 2020 to $453 million in 2021 and to $660 million in 2022.

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Imposter Text Scam

Based on the FTC’s knowledge, shoppers misplaced essentially the most cash to funding scams, which fleeced buyers of greater than $3.8 billion final yr. (iStock / iStock)

The FTC additionally gathers client complaints about scams by its Shopper Sentinel Community, which is a database that collects reviews instantly from shoppers, legislation enforcement companies in any respect ranges of presidency, the Higher Enterprise Bureau, companies and nonprofit teams. A complete of 23 states at present take part within the Sentinel Community.

Sentinel acquired 5.1 million reviews in 2022, together with the fraud reviews detailed above plus points with credit score bureaus, banks and lenders. 

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Fake Reward Email Scam

Scammers typically goal shoppers by emails purporting to provide them a prize or enter them in a sweepstakes. (Google / Fox Information)

There have been additionally a further 1.1 million reviews of identification theft acquired by the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov website in 2022.

It’s essential to notice that these figures are merely shoppers’ reported losses and that the entire quantity of losses is probably going increased as some shoppers decide to not report their losses attributable to embarrassment or a way that submitting a report wouldn’t make a distinction.

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Whereas the FTC can’t resolve particular person instances, the company makes use of reviews to research and produce instances towards fraud, scams and dangerous enterprise practices. Reviews are shared with legislation enforcement companies that examine additional.

You may report scams that you just encounter at ReportFraud.ftc.gov – and you should utilize the location to replace a previous report, if wanted.

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